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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / August 2006Update
Briefly, Biopsy on 1/12 showed cancer in 10 percent of 1 of 12 specimens. PSA of 4.5. Lab work by Dyanon Systems. Urologist wanted another psa in three months. That one came back 4.0. He recommended another test in 4 months. That one came back three weeks ago at 5.3. When I visited him last week, he said his DRE revealed no apparent change in the prostate, but added it is time to start talking about treatment. He also had blood drawn for another PSA. It also came back 5.3. I've done all the reading that has been recommended here. Also, have talked with a radiation oncologist about seed implants. Will also talk to one more. I'm also trying to find someone in the Phoenix area with a good reputation for the Da Vinci procedure. There is one doctor doing it in Tucson, but only for a short time. Since we have a daughter who lives near Atlanta, maybe I'll contact Scott Miller who was mentioned in the story in the Chicago Tribune. Or, perhaps before I go any farther, I may see another urologist. Oh, yes, I'm 72,73 in November. Naaman > I've done all the reading that has been recommended here. Also, have > talked with a radiation oncologist about seed implants. Oh, yes, I'm 72,73 > in November. Seems to me that Bev, our Brachy expert, has told us that is too old for Brachy. I dont' remember why.  SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06, 6/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 Casodex added daily 07/06 Non Illegitimi Carborundum Ah, I don't think anyone is too old for brachytherapy. I wonder where you got that idea? But quite often on older men they just do radiation alone. Maybe because of other health problems? But 72 is not that old for a man in good health who might have another 20-25 years ahead of him. OTOH, my BIL's father is 94-95 and in a nursing home and has PC. The docs wanted to treat him for PC. My BIL said no, as there was little point in putting his father through anything that he doesn't really need. He only needs to be kept comfortable. Other body parts are failing so it is just a matter of time. Bev > > I've done all the reading that has been recommended here. Also, have > > talked with a radiation oncologist about seed implants. Oh, yes, I'm 72,73 > > in November. > > Seems to me that Bev, our Brachy expert, has told us that is too old for > Brachy. I dont' remember why. > Ah, I don't think anyone is too old for brachytherapy. I wonder where you > got that idea? I dunno! Is there a minimum age? I'm beginning to think that there is no minimum age either. I know in general they tend not to do it on younger men but I'm finding out that there are quite a few men in their 40's who have had brachytherapy. I think the fear was that they might develop cancer later as a result of the high dosage of radiation. So either the medical field has overcome that fear and decided the odds are so miniscule, or are more men throwing caution to the wind and having brachytherapy because it has (don't let IP read this! LOL) less side effects. Bev > > Ah, I don't think anyone is too old for brachytherapy. I wonder where you > > got that idea? > > I dunno! Is there a minimum age? > Ah, I don't think anyone is too old for brachytherapy. I wonder where you > got that idea? But quite often on older men they just do radiation alone. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >> Seems to me that Bev, our Brachy expert, has told us that is too old for >> Brachy. I dont' remember why. Neither the urologist nor oncologist seemed concerned about my age as far as implants were concerned. And they seem to think my health is ok--as do I, in spite of hernia surgery and rotator cuff repair in the past six months. The urologist did mention that several years ago he might not have suggested RRP for someone my age. But he is willing to now because of...I don't remember exactly how he phrased it...improvements. Gotta check my notes. Naaman You need to check with a radiation oncologist, one who is familiar with brachytherapy. Is your oncologist a regular user of brachytherapy? Where do you live? It is much easier physically to have brachy (pronounced break-e ) done than a RP. Your down time is less, etc. You just have it done usually as an outpatient and then come home and be a couch potato for a few days. (No matter how good you feel stay on the couch!) If you want more info on brachy just email me. Bev > Neither the urologist nor oncologist seemed concerned about my age as > far as implants were concerned. And they seem to think my health is [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Naaman > You need to check with a radiation oncologist, one who is familiar with > brachytherapy. Is your oncologist a regular user of brachytherapy? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > outpatient and then come home and be a couch potato for a few days. (No > matter how good you feel stay on the couch!) I've ruled out RT and will opt for robotic surgery soon. I'm a very young 58. I'm ruling out RT for two reasons (I think). One is: if surgery is unsuccessful, we could use RT as second attempt. Can't do it the other way around. The second: RT seems to to be the gift that keeps on giving. I've heard that some SE don't show up for 7 or 8 years. Then the dose can start causing urinary and bowel problems. Am I way off base on this, or is either reason rational? John >>>> I've done all the reading that has been recommended here. Also, have >>>> talked with a radiation oncologist about seed implants. Oh, yes, I'm [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Neither the urologist nor oncologist seemed concerned about my age as far > as implants were concerned. I was dead wrong about the age. It was the size of the prostate that Bev talked about a month or two (or three) ago, not age. SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06, 6/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 Casodex added daily 07/06 Non Illegitimi Carborundum Yep, size. They can't do it if the prostate is too large. I don't know why. I think it has to do with the number of seeds. Maybe too many seeds equals too much radiation? Bev > >>>> I've done all the reading that has been recommended here. Also, have > >>>> talked with a radiation oncologist about seed implants. Oh, yes, I'm [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > I was dead wrong about the age. It was the size of the prostate that Bev > talked about a month or two (or three) ago, not age. > Oh, yes, I'm 72, 73 in November. What date in November? Mine is the 20th. >> Oh, yes, I'm 72, 73 in November. > > What date in November? Mine is the 20th. Nov. 15. I'm the 17 and married on the 21. Bev > >> Oh, yes, I'm 72, 73 in November. > > > > What date in November? Mine is the 20th. > > > Nov. 15. I'll be 50 on Nov 15. My prostate, however, only made it to 48. > >> Oh, yes, I'm 72, 73 in November. > > > > What date in November? Mine is the 20th. > > > Nov. 15. > Briefly, Biopsy on 1/12 showed cancer in 10 percent of 1 of 12 > specimens. PSA of 4.5. Lab work by Dyanon Systems. Urologist wanted [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Oh, yes, I'm 72,73 in November. Sounds like you've done your homework and brachytherapy might be a reasonable choice, if, as I assume, your Gleason is 6. But also consider esternal beam radiation. It is also possible that a man your age with a non-aggressive small cancer could safely coonsider watchful waiting with an emphasis on the watchful part. > Naaman >> Briefly, Biopsy on 1/12 showed cancer in 10 percent of 1 of 12 >> specimens. PSA of 4.5. Lab work by Dyanon Systems. Urologist wanted [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > >> Naaman Yes, Gleason is 3+3=6 and I'm at T1c. Naaman |
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